24 THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER February 



Every admission that extracted honey ful smack and relish to one's honey, 

 finds competition in the ordinary table which he offers for sale. It gives a 

 syrups that are to be found on the mar- "flavor"' to the goods that is long re- 

 kets, is a virtual acknowledgement that membered: for the world still loves 

 something is wanting in its true prop- both an honest man and an honest wo- 

 erties. The only competition comes man! 



from a syrup inade of pure cane sugar. Let us notice what bee-keepers have 

 which in too many cases excels the ex- done for the trade in honey by the per- 

 tracted honey of commerce. This being sistent use of cane sugar in the apiary, 

 a fact, is it any wonder that the econom- The dominent belief with the uninform- 

 ically-wise housekeeper often prefers ed consumer of honey is that, real, gen- 

 to make her own "extracted" honey? nine "bees' " honey will not granulate. 



There is no dodging the fact that the Comb honey being more deliberate in 

 producers as a class, are more largely its tendency to sugar justifies him in 

 to blame for present conditions in the this belief. When these persons be- 

 markets than any one else. come apprised of the fact that sugar 



Now that the unpleasantness of chas- syrup is used for feeding bees and then 

 ing down the purchasers has been added note the increased tendency of extract- 

 to the uncertainty of securing a crop ed honey to granulate, it is very natur- 

 of honey, the situation from the stand- al for them to conclude that all ex- 

 point of the specialist, is a gruesome one tracted honey is composed largely of 

 indeed. Unless bee-keepers act in con- cane sugar syrup. 



cert for the betterment of conditions Those producers of comb honey who 

 there can be no substantial assurance practice and advise taking all the honey 

 that the pure, sweet liquid from the the bees store and then in turn feed 

 bees own waxen combs will not con- sugar syrup for the bees' consumption 

 tinue to be ranked with adulterated or thus get the "game" while giving to the 

 fraudalent goods. The argument of other man the name of adulterating his 

 over-production falls to the ground, for honey with store sugar. This might 

 there cannot be an over-production of be called an indiscriminate use of sugar 

 honey in this country; but there can be for it is so easy to get beyond the bor- 

 and is an over production of that which der line. Call its use a deception; call 

 passes under the name of honey, com- it what you will, but its effects upon the 

 ing straight, too, from the homes of market may be read by all. Every dis- 

 bee-keepers. Old, rusty, disagreeable position on the part of liquid honey to 

 smelling cans; thin, rancid, foamy hon- sugar is thus made to serve as convinc- 

 ey. with dead bees and flies and numer- ing evidence of fraud. The most gilt- 

 ous dirt all combined!! Ugh! Can you edged logic one may be able to coni- 

 eat it? Can you? I dare say that one mand will often prove inadequate to 

 who with wanton shame uses glucose is the purpose of disabusing the mind of 

 more laudable than these. Now, I am the consumer of this belief. Thus we 

 no friend to glucose when used as an see that 'bad as glucose may be, the 

 adulterant in honey. I stand for pure, fear of cane sugar as an adulterant is 

 wholesome foods as firmly as any one, decidedly the most injurious to the sale 

 I believe I speak a positive truth when of honey. 



I say that certain producers of honey When the time comes that bee-keep- 

 have themselves ruined the market ers will exercise, in the production of 

 more than any one else. Consistency is extracted honey a conscientious, lovable 

 always a jewel; though one would not regard for others, and when we can put 

 suppose so judging from the quality and upon our honey labels some easy, prac- 

 appearance of honey, in a general way. tical method of chemical analysis where- 

 Flashy, high sounding claims in the by the purchaser of honey can prove 

 label effects only create disgust for beyond all reasonable grounds for dis- 

 honey if the purchaser finds the quality pute, the absolute purity of honey, ex- 

 wanting. Every phase of deception, tracted honey will be put on the right 

 whether it be committed in the produc- road to redemption. 



tion of honey or while one is engaged One should be clean in person and 

 in selling it, is sure to revert to the scrupulously clean in detail in the pre- 

 discomfiture of the bee-keeper in partic- paration of honey for market. One 

 ular and to the trade in general. Hon- should be courteous: there should be 

 esty, pure and simple, gives a wonder- no display oi avarice or a spirit to force 



